UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 343 



bird becomes very fat, and is then excellent eating, little inferior to a 

 Snip, or Rail. 



The Long'billed Curlew appears in the salt marshes of New Jersey 

 about the middle of May, on its way to the north ; and in September, 

 on its return from its breeding place. Their food consists chiefly of 

 small crabs, which they are very dexterous at probing for, and pulling 

 out of the holes, with their long bills: they also feed on those small 

 sea snaiis so abundant in the marshes, and on various worms and in- 

 sects. They are likewise fond of bramble berries, frequenting the 

 fie cis and uplands in search of this fruit, on which they get very fat, 

 and are men tender and good eating, altogether free from the sedgy 

 tas.e with which their flesh is usually tainted while they feed in the 

 salt marshes. 



The Esquimaux Curlew, or as it is called by our gunners on the 

 coast, the Short-billed Curlew, arrives in large flocks on the coast of 

 New J isey early in May from the south ; frequents the salt marshes, 

 muddy shores and inlets, feeding on small worms and minute shell 

 fish Tney fly high, and with great rapidity. In the month of June, 

 while the dewberries are ripe, these birds sometimes frequent the 

 fidcis in company with the Long-billed kind, where brambles abound, 

 soon get very fat, and are at that time excellent eating. In the early 

 partoi' spring, and indeed during the whole time that they frequent 

 the marshes, they are much less esteemed for the table. They retire 

 to the north to breed. 



Red-breasted Snipe. This bird has a considerable resemblance to 

 the common or English Snipe, not only in its general form, size and 

 colours, but iikewise in the excellence of its flesh, which is in high 

 estimation. It differs, however, greatly from the common Snipe in 

 its. manners, and in many other peculiarities. It arrives on the coast 

 of New Jersey early in April, is seldom or never seen inland ; early 

 it May it proceeds to the north to breed, and returns by the latter 

 part of July. During its stay here it flies in flocks, sometimes very 

 high, and has then a loud and shrill whistle, making many evolutions 

 c er the marshes ; forming, dividing and reuniting. They some- 

 t> es settle in such numbers, and so close together, that upwards of 

 eighty have been shot at one discharge of a musquet. 



Scmipalmated Snipe. This is one of the most noisy and noted birds 

 that inhabit our salt marshes in summer. Its common name is the 

 Willet, by which appellation it is universally known along the shores 

 of New York, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland, in all of which 

 places it breeds in great numbers. The Willet is peculiar to America. 

 It arrives from the south, on the shores of the middle states, about 

 the twentieth of April ; and from that time to the last of July its loud 

 and shrill reiterations of Pill -will -willet, resound, almost incessantly, 

 along the marshes ; and may be distinctly heard at the distance of 

 more than half a mile. About the twentieth of May the Willets be- 

 gin to lay ; the eggs are usually four in number, very thick at the 

 great end, and tapering to a narrower point at the other than those of 

 the common hen; they are excellent eating. Towards the fall, when 

 these birds associate in large flocks, they become extremely fat, and. 

 are then accounted a great delicacy. 



Common Snifie. This bird is well known to our sportsmen; and, if 

 not the same, has a very near resemblance to the common Snipe of 

 Britain. It is usually known by the name of the English Snipe, to 



